Become an OSP Trooper

Sworn Recruiting

Thank you for your interest in the Oregon State Police. At this time, we not accepting applications. Please monitor our website for updates, as recruitment may resume in 2026.

If you would like to learn more about career opportunities with OSP, you can call one of our recruiters or review our website to familiarize yourself with the hiring process.

To receive a notification when recruitment opens, please email osp.trooper@osp.oregon.gov and request to be added to our contact list. Please include your name, and phone number.

Some things you can do in the meantime:
    •    Review the minimum qualifications and hiring standards.
    • Run our Physical Fitness Test (OSP PFT)
    •    Familiarize yourself with the POST test, which evaluates high school level reading, writing, math and grammar.
    •    Stay connected via our website and social media platforms for updates and insight into OSP life.

We appreciate your interest and look forward to your application in the future.

Learn about OSP's Hiring Process

Eligibility Requirments

Be a United States Citizen by birth or a Naturalized United States Citizen – OR – able to attain citizenship within 18 months of hire per OAR 259-008-0019 – 1 Citizenship (a) (b).
Possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
Applicants must be 21 years old on the first day of employment per OAR 259-008-0010.
Possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
Meet all applicable medical and physical requirements.
Pass all applicable background, credit, and criminal history checks.
Be in good health and of good moral character. Moral character is defined as possessing the attributes of empathy, courage, fortitude, honesty, loyalty, and other virtues deemed to be morally good.
Work at the assigned duty station for 2 years once solo status is reached.

See our Tattoo, Body Modification, and Jewelry Policy

Trooper Hiring Steps

The hiring process for recruits is extensive. The time from application to appointment can exceed several months. There are seven steps in the hiring process. Read and review all steps and become familiar with the different tests and systems you’ll need to access before you begin. You can find all of the steps outlined here.

Automatic Disqualifiers

An application will not be processed if any of the following factors or circumstances apply to the applicant:

A felony conviction under state or federal law.
A misdemeanor conviction relating to sex crimes, crimes against persons, drugs, fraud, or moral turpitude.
Other misdemeanor conviction within the last five years.
Conviction for minor in possession of alcoholic beverage or marijuana within the last 12 months.
Conviction of a major traffic offense or DUI diversion within the last five years.
Revocation of driving privileges or a felony or misdemeanor operator's license suspension within the last five years.
Three or more moving traffic violation convictions within the last two years.
Careless driving conviction within the last 12 months.
Conviction for an open container of an alcoholic beverage within the last 12 months.
Conviction of a Class A traffic violation, excluding speeding violations, within the last 12 months.
Five or more traffic violation convictions, including suspensions, within the last three years.
No valid operators license.
A currently expired or suspended operator's license.
An operator's license suspention within the last three years.
Participation in the unlawful sale, distribution, or manufacture of any illigal drug/controlled substance (including prescription medication) within the last 10 years.
Unlawful use or possession of any illegal drug or controlled substance (including prescription medication) within the last 5 years.
Personal use of marijuana within the last 12 months except for cannabidiol (CBD).
Discharge from any branch of the Armed Forces classified as Other Than Honorable, Bad Conduct, or Dishonorable.
An arrest resulting in a conviction that would prevent the applicant from becoming certified under the provisions of ORS 181A.640. This includes a conviction for an offense involving domestic violence as described in ORS 181a.640(2)(c) or child abuse as described in ORS 181A.640(2)(d)
A conviction for a bias or hate crime under state or federal law.
Illegal conduct involving moral turpitude.
Conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
Intentional deception or fraud or attempted, or fraud in any application, examination, or the other document.
Conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.
Conduct demonstrating a misuse of authority for financial gain.
Acts or conduct which would cause a reasonable person to have substantial doubts about the individual's honesty, fairness, respect for the rights of others, or for the laws of thestate and/or the nation.
Conduct that adversely reflects on the individual's fitness to perform as a law enforcement officer.
Any conduct or incident that would preclude Sworn Police Officer Certification through the Oregon Departmen of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST).

Monthly Base Salary (updated January 2026)

Non-PERS Participating Members*	PERS-Eligible	Pay Steps	When
$6,422	$6,869	1	Hire
$6,742	$7,210	2	6 months
$7,080	$7,570	3	1 year
$7,433	$7,949	4	2 years
$7,805	$8,349	5	3 years
$8,196	$8,766	6	4 years
$8,605	$9,202	7	5 years
$9,035	$9,664	8	6 years

*Recruit Troopers become PERS eligible after 6 months of employment.

Benefits and Additional Pay Opportunities

A comprehensive competitive benefit package link to: new employees’ page/compensation and benefits in this packet.
Pay adjusted based upon experience.
Additional applicable incentives:

3% Associates Degree or Intermediate DPSST certification
6% Bachelor's Degree or Advanced DPSST certification
Possible 5% differential for foreign language proficiency
4% ACTAR Certification
2% TCI (Technical Collision Investigator)
2.5% OSP SWAT Member (1.5% increase after 5 consecutive years of service on the team)
2% MRT
2% CID or F&W SIU

We provide all duty related equipment.
12 sick days and 3 personal days per year.
A leave bank is established in lieu of traditional holiday leave. Each employee earns 8 hours of leave per full calendar month of paid employment with a maximum accrual of 96 hours.
Vacation accrual.

Years of Service	Hours Per Month	Days Per Year
0-5	8	12
6-10	10	15
11-15	12	18
16-20	14	21
20-25	16	24
25+	18	27

Location and Duty Assignments

Openings in most offices in the state.
You will know where you are assigned prior to recruit school.
Statewide opportunities available based upon specialized skills and training within the Patrol, Criminal, and Fish and Wildlife Divisions.

Additional Lateral Information

Lateral Steps

Training for a lateral police officer with the Oregon State Police requires successful completion of a six‑week Pre‑Academy, followed by a 60‑hour Lateral Post Academy

The Lateral Post Academy will immediately follow the Pre‑Academy to minimize the time between the start of training and reporting to assigned duty stations.

If at any point the Training Staff determines—based on their training and experience—that a lateral recruit requires additional instruction beyond the Lateral Post Academy, the recruit will be reassigned to the full Post Academy with their designated recruit class. The lateral recruit will then transfer to their assigned office and begin the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) until the next Post Academy begins.

If a lateral recruit successfully completes the Lateral Post Academy but it is determined during their FTEP period that additional training is required, they will be required to attend the next full Post Academy.

Qualified out‑of‑state lateral applicants who meet Oregon standards set by DPSST will not be required to attend the Basic Police Academy; however, they will be required to attend a two‑week PCOD Academy through DPSST within a year of appointment.

Pay is adjusted based upon experience.

Eligible for promotion to sergeant after two years of service with the Oregon State Police and a total of five years of law enforcement experience.

Retirement

Full retirement available as early as age 50 with 25 years of service, or at age 55 with as little as 5 years of service with PERS.
Oregon PERS is transferable if you are a current member.

Visit PERS for more details.

Contact

Oregon State Police- Sworn Recruiting

3565 Trelstad Ave. SE
Salem, OR 97317

Richardson, Phil 2 August 2017.jpg

Sr. Trooper Phil Richardson
Phone: 503-583-5196

Hours
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday